Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 2.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 2.8% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
The figure is down 6.4% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka peaked at 10.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 2011.
That places Sri Lanka 146th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.3% | — |
| 1992 | 10.2% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 9.3% | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 8.9% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -6.4% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 6.7% | -14.8% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | -11.4% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | -11.1% |
| 2004 | 6.1% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -13.7% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -15.1% |
| 2009 | 4.4% | +18.1% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -21.6% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -22.3% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +10.3% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -4.3% |
| 2024 | 3.0% | -15.7% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | -6.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.7%, 49% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.0%, 68% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.7% | 6.7% | 10.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 3.7% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sri Lanka was 2.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 10.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 2011.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 146th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.